Basketball practice device



April 16, 1963 A. J. HoLsTAD BASKETBALL PRACTICE DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Sept. 20, 1961 raffle-' o f y;

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April 16, 1963 A. J. HoLsTAD 3,085,800

BASKETBALL PRACTICE DEVICE Filed Sept. 20. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2EMP/@10% @Q5/JZ? 3,085,800 BASKETBALL PRACTECE SE1/1111i Arleigh .1.Holstad, 102 4th St. N., Northwood, Iowa Filed Sept. 20, 1961, Ser. No.139,494 11 Claims. (Cl. 273-15) This invention relates to a device foraiding the practice of the game of basketball, and more particularly toa device that will first retain the ball in the basket and then exit theball from the basket in a direction radial to the basket, and is `acontinuation `in part of my pending application on a Basketball PracticeDevice tiled September 2, 1959', Serial Number 837,705.

Perhaps two of the most important phases in the practicing of abasketball player are those of placing the basketball in the basket, andretrieving the basketball on rebound. The present standard basketballbasket is not particularly adaptable to either the o-ne practicing thegame or to the coach. One reason for this is that a ball throlwn intothe basket -will pass directly downwardly through the open bottom net ofthe basket. Obviously, this does not develop skill in rebounding foreither the basket shooter or other individuals in the vicinity of thebasket. Furthermore, if the shooter is to practice the art of shootingfor foul points, he cannot remain in one position during this practicebut must retrieve the ball each time he shoots from la pointdirectly'below the basket.

Therefore, one of the principal objects of my invention is to provide adevice attachable to a standard basketball basket that will receive andretain the ball passed into the basket yand will then at any desiredtime eject the ball in :any selected direction laterally from thebasket.

A further object of this invention is to provide a basketball trainingaid that may be easily and quickly secured onto a standard basketballbasket.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a basketballcasting device that may be operated by the player or by the coach.

A still further object or" this invention is to provide a basketballcasting device in association with a basketball basket that may beactuated `at a distance from that of the vicinity of the basket.

A still further object of this invention is `to provide a device forcasting basketballs from a basketball basket that may be adjustablycontrollable to cause the ball to be cast in various radial directionsfrom the basket.

Still further objects of my invention are to provide a basketballpractice device that is economical -in manufacture and durable in use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangements, andcombination, of the various parts ot the device, whereby the objectscontemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth,speciically pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a side view of my invention installed on a basketball basketand ready for use.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of my basketball practice device.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FfG. 5.

FIG. 4 is a side plan view 4of my device and more fully illustrates itsconstruction.

FlG. 5 is a side plan view of the rotating and positioning means of mybasketball practice device.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line 6 6 of FIG. 5 and,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7--7 of FIG. 4.

In these drawings l have used the numeral 10 to desig- Patented Apr. 16,1963 nate a supporting member holding an ordinary standard basketballbasket, as shown in FIG. l. This basket rim is designated by the numeral11 and has the usual downwardly extending open end net 12. 1t is to sucha device that I secure my Itraining aid and which l will now describe indetail.

The numeral 13 generally designates the base ring. Secured in spacedrelationship yon the base ring are four hook or like members 14, 1S, 16and 17. These hook members extend upwardly Iand outwardly and areadapted to engage the basketball basket rim 11. The two hook members 14and 17 are closer together than they are to the other hook members andare adapted to extend at each side of the tixture that supports the rim11. The numerals 19 `and 20 designate two spaced apart ltab hook membersdisposed on the base ring 13 between the hook members 14 and 17. The tabhook-s 19 and 20 extend radially first upwardly and outwardly and `thenoutwardly from the base ring 13 and are adapted to extend immediatelyunder the basket rim V11 in order to keep the device from being jouncedout of position during active use and also extend respectively on eachside `of the fixture that supports the basket rim 111 in order to keepthe base ring 13 from accidentally rotating during active use, bestshown in FIG. l. If desired, the hook members 15 and 16 may extendhigher than the hook members 14 and 17 in order to give the base ring 13a slight forward tilt in relation to the basket rim 11. Also, the basering 13 is of a smaller diameter than the rim 11 and adapted to besuspended by means of the supporting hooks 14, 15, 16 and 17 interior ofand below the rim `11.

The numeral 22. designates a rotatable ring. Extending downwardly fromthe ring 22 are a plurality of spaced apart bars 23. Fach of these bars23 extend downwardly immediately interior of the base ring 13 and belowthe bottom plane of the base ring 13. The numeral 25 designates a wheel,or like, rotatably mounted on the outer side of each ofthe bars 23 andabove the top plane of the base ring 13. The numeral 26 designates anoutwardly extending lug, or like, on the lower end portion of each ofthe bars 23. These lugs extend radially outwardly below the bottom plane`of the base ring 13 and vact as limiting stops for preventing unlimitedupward movement of the rotatable ring Z2 relative to the base ring 13.By this arrangement of elements the rotatable ring 22 will be rotatablymounted onto and directly above the base 13.

The numeral 28 designates my hinged ring vertically hingedly secured byany suitable means to the rotatable ring 22, as shown in FIG. l. Therings 13, 22 and 28 are all of substantially the same diameter. By thisarrangement of elements, the hinged ring 28 may be swung upwardly andoutwardly, but is limited in its inward and downward swinging movementby contact with the rotatable ring 22.

The numeral 30 designates a plurality of straps having their upper endssecured to the hinged ring 2S. These straps extend downwardly andinwardly to form an open grid basketball receiving pocket, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 4.

The numeral 32 designates an open arm frame depending from the lowerareas of the straps 30 as shown in FIG. 4. At the outer end of the armframe lare two spaced apart belt guide rollers, or like, 34 and 35,respectively. The numeral 37 designates a depending V- shaped open framehaving its two upper ends secured at diametrically opposite positions onthe rotatable ring 22. v

The numerals 39 and 40 designate two spaced apart belt guide rollers, orlike, rotatably mounted on the upper portion of one side of the Vshapedframe 37. The numeral 41 designates a belt anchoring bar on the upperend portion of the opposite side of the V-shaped frame 37. The numerals42 and 43 designate two spaced apart belt guide rollers rotatablysecured at the lower end of the V-shaped frame 37. The numeral 45designates a rectangular plate secured to the lower end portion of theV-shaped frame 37. The numeral 47 designates a liexible elongated beltstrap having its upper end secured to the bar 41 and which is positionedin the vicinity of the hinge point of the hinged ring 28. This beltstrap extends from the bar 41 between the two belt guide rollers 34 `and35, thence between the two belt guide rollers 39 and 40, and thencebetween the two belt guide rollers 42 and 43, as shown in FIG. 4.

Any suitable elongated tool may be used for placing the device into andonto the basket rim 11 as shown in FIG. 1. When the device is so placedthe base ring 13 will be rigidly held against rotation and also thedevice will not accidentally move from the basket rim 11 because of thefinger projections 19 and 20 extending under the basket rim 11.Obviously when the device is installed for use, the basketball 49 isthrown into the top ring of the basketball basket, and it will beprevented from moving completely downwardly and out through the net 12.Instead the basketball will be retained onto and in the straps 30 thatmakes up the ball receiving frame. This retention of the basketballwithin the net area is highly desirable for training purposes andespecially for the development of proper coordination and timing. Thetime period the basketball will be retained within my device will dependupon the time the hinged ring is in a normal horizontal position withinthe basket. If the hinged ring is swung upwardly and outwardly as shownin FIG. 1, the basketball will be cast also upwardly and outwardly.Various means such as a rope shown in FIG. 4 may be used for moving myhinged ring upwardly and outwardly. 1 recommend the use of the strapbelt shown v in the drawings. To eject the ball it is merely necessaryto pull on the lower end of the strap belt. The free end of the strapbelt may extend not only downwardly but horizontally so that it can beactuated by the coach or by others or even by the one shooting the ballfrom the foul line. The direction the basketball will be cast willdepend upon the position of the hinged area of the hinged ring i.e., theball will always be cast over the hinged area of the ring 28. Thereforethe selectivity of position of the rotatable ring 22 is most important.In many instances it will be desired to cast the ball directly back tothe foul line area but in other situations and conditions it may bedesirable to cast the ball at different angles to the left or to theright. Obviously this may be accomplished merely by the rotation of therotatable ring 22. Inasmuch as the V-shaped frame 37 is attached to therotatable ring, it is merely necessary to rotate this V- shaped frame toaccomplish the desired positioning of the rotatable ring 22 and hingedring 28. To facilitate rotation of this rotatable portion of my device Ihave provided an elongated handle generally designated by the numeral50. This elongated handle should have its length of hinged togetherparts such as shown in FIG. 3 but not rotatable. By being so hinged thehandle may be built horizontally in its lower end and therefore theoperator can stand at any position remote from that position directlyunder the basket and if the upper end of the tool is secured to theV-shaped frame, a turning of the tool will also affect the rotation ofthe V-shaped frame and its associated members. Therefore at the upperend of the member 50 I provide a link 51 hinged thereto, andtransversely hinged to the upper end of the link 51, a hook portion 52as shown in FIG. 5. When it is desired to rotate the rotatable portionof the device, this hook portion 52 is detachably hooked over, onto, andaround the plate 45 as shown in FIG. l. This tool 50 with the strap 47provides complete control of the device at all times. The hinged portionmay be so designed so that the hinged ring will have limited throw andafter it has cast out the basketball it will, by gravity, move back toits position found in FIG. 4 for receiving the next basketball. Thearrangement of the strap is such that it will not throw the hinged ringcompletely forwardly regardless of how hard the strap is pulled and thisaction is shown in FIG. l.

Some changes may be made in the construction and 4arrangement of mybasketball practice device without departing from the real spirit andpurpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims,any modiiied forms of structures or use of mechanical equivalents whichmay be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a basketball playing aid, a basic ring frame, hook portions on thebasic ring adapted to extend over the ring of a basketball basket, ahinge ring, a means operatively hingedly securing said hinge ring tosaid basic ring, a basketball receiving frame secured within and to saidhinge ring and extending downwardly from said hinge ring, and a flexiblemember having one end operatively secured to said basic lring frame andits length engaging the bottom of said basketball receiving frame formoving said hinge ring to eject a received basketball.

2. In a basketball playing aid, a basic ring frame, hook portions on thebasic ring adapted to extend over the ring of a basketball basket, ahinge ring, a means operatively hingedly securing said hinge ring tosaid basic ring, a basketball receiving frame secured within and to saidhinge ring and extending downwardly from said hinge ring, and a flexiblemember having one end operatively secured to said basic ring frame andits length engaging the bottom of said basketball receiving frame formoving said hinge ring to eject a received basketball, said basic ringhaving a diameter less than that of the diameter of the upper portion ofa basketball basket.

3. In a basketball playing aid, a basic ring frame, portions on thebasic ring adapted to extend over the ring of a basketball basket, ahinge ring, a means operatively hingedly securing said hinge ring tosaid basic ring, a basketball receiving frame secured within and to saidhinge ring and extending downwardly from said hinge ring, and a liexiblemember having one end operatively secured to said basic ring frame andits length engaging the bottom of said basketball receiving frame formoving said hinge ring to eject a received basketball.

4. In a basketball playing aid, a basic ring frame, hook portions on thebasic ring adapted to extend over thc ring of a basketball basket, ahinge ring, a means operatively hingedly securing said hinge ring tosaid basic ring, a basketball receiving frame secured within and to saidhinge ring and extending downwardly from said hinge ring, two spacedapart guide members on the underside of said basketball receiving frame,and a flexible elongated member having one end operatively secured tosaid basic ring and its length extending between said two guide membersfor moving said hinge ring to eject a received basketball.

5. In a basketball playing aid, a basic ring frame, hook portions on thebasic ring adapted to extend over the ring of a basketball basket, ahinge ring, a means operatively hingedly securing said hinge ring tosaid basic ring, a basketball receiving frame secured within and to saidhinge ring and extending downwardly from said hinge ring, two spacedapart guide members on the underside of said basketball receiving frame,one of which at least is a rotatably mounted roller, and a iiexibleelongated member having one end operatively secured to said basic ringand its length extending between said two guide members for moving saidhinge ring to eject a received basketball.

6. In a basketball playing aid, a basic ring frame, hook portions on thebasic ring adapted to extend over the ring of a basketball basket, ahinge ring, a means operatively hingedly and rotatably securing saidhinge ring to said basic ring, a basketball receiving frame securedwithin and to said hinge ring and extending downwardly from said hingering, and a tiexible member having one end operatively secured to saidbasic ring frame and its length engaging the bottom of said basketballreceiving frame for moving said hinge ring to eject a receivedbasketball.

7. In a basketball playing aid, a basic ring frame, means for securingsaid basic ring frame to a basketball basket, a rotatable ring framehorizontally rotatably secured to said basic ring frame, a framedepending downwardly from said rotatably mounted frame, a hinge ringoperatively hingedly secured to said rotatably mounted ring frame, abasketball receiving frame secured within and to said hinge ring andextending downwardly from said hinge ring and an elongated flexiblemember having one end operatively secured to said rotatably mounted ringand with its length operatively slidably engaging said basketballreceiving vframe whereby when it is manually pulled said basketballreceiving frame and hinge ring will be swung upwardly and outwardly toeject a received basketball.

8. In a basketball playing aid, a basic -ring frame, means for securingsaid basic ring frame to a basketball basket, a rotatable ring framehorizontally rotatably secured to said basic ring frame, a V-shapedframe depending downwardly from said rotatably mounted frame, a hingering operatively hingedly secured to said rotatably mounted ring frame,a basketball receiving frame secured within and to said hinge ring andextending downwardly from said hinge ring and an elongated fiexiblemember having one end operatively secured to said rotatably mounted ringand with its length operatively slidably engaging said basketballreceiving frame whereby when it is manually pulled said basketballreceiving frame and hinge ring will be swung upwardly and outwardly toeject a received basketball.

9. In a basketball playing aid, a basic ring frame, means for securingsaid basic ring frame to a basketball basket, a rotatable ring trarnehorizontally rotatably secured to said basic ring frame, a frame`depending downwardly from said rotatably mounted frame, a hinge ringoperatively hingedly secured to said rotatably mounted ring lframe, abasketball receiving frame secured within and to said hinge ring andextending downwardly from said hinge ring, an elongated flexible memberhaving one end operatively secured to said rotatably mounted ring andwith its length operatively slidably engaging said basketball receivingframe whereby when it is manually pulled said basketball receiving frameand hinge ring will be swung upwardly and outwardly to eject a receivedbasketball, a plate member on said trarne that is secured to saidrotatably mounted ring frame, a flexible non-rotatable elongated tooland a hook on said elongated tool detachably engaging said plate member;said hook being hingedly secured to one end of said elongated ilexibletool.

10. In a basketball playing aid, a basic ring frame, means for securingsaid basic ring frame to a basketball basket, a rotatable ring framehorizontally rotatably secured to said basic ring frame, a framedepending downwardly from said rotatably mounted frame, a hinge ringoperatively hingedly secured to said rotatably mounted ring frame, abasketball receiving frame secured within and to said hinge ring andextending downwardly from said hinge ring, an arm extending from thebottom of said basketball receiving frame, two spaced apart strap guidemembers on said arm, a flexible strap having one end secured to saiddepending frame and its length extending between said two strap guidemembers, and a roller on said depending -frame engaging the underside ofsaid exible strap whereby when said flexible strap is pulled downwardlyit will elevate said basketball receiving frame.

11. ln a basketball playing aid, a basic ring frame, means for securingsaid basic ring frame to a basketball basket, a rotatable ring Aframehorizontally rotatably secured to said basic ring frame, a framedepending down wardly from said rotatably mounted frame, a hinge ringoperatively hingedly secured to said rotatably mounted ring frame, abasketball receiving frame secured within and to said hinge ring andextending downwardly from said hinge ring, two spaced apart cable guidemem-bers operatively secured to the bottom of said basketball receivingframe, two spaced apart cable guide members at the lower end of saiddepending frame, a cable guide member on said `depending frame and abovethe lower portion thereof, and an elongated ilexible cable having oneend secured to said depending frame with its length extending betweenthe two cable guide members on the bottom of the basketball receivingframe, thence normally upwardly and extending over the last mentionedcable guide member on said depending frame and thence downwardly betweenthe two cable guide members on the lower end of the said dependingframe.

Reterences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

3. IN A BASKETBALL PLAYING AID, A BASIC RING FRAME, PORTIONS ON THEBASIC RING ADAPTED TO EXTEND OVER THE RING OF A BASKETBALL BASKET, AHINGE RING, A MEANS OPERATIVELY HINGEDLY SECURING SAID HINGE RING TOSAID BASIC RING, A BASKETBALL RECEIVING FRAME SECURED WITHIN AND TO SAIDHINGE RING AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID HINGE RING, AND A FLEXIBLEMEMBER HAVING ONE END OPERATIVELY SECURED TO SAID BASIC RING FRAME ANDITS LENGTH ENGAGING THE BOTTOM OF SAID BASKETBALL RECEIVING FRAME FORMOVING SAID HINGE RING TO EJECT A RECEIVED BASKETBALL.